just checking in to say im still alive. i hate christmas its the most pointless overly commercial waste of effort in existance, i also get really pis**d off when shops put up the decorations and act all christmas like in november!! i swear if another shop assistant says merry christmas to me i'm going to rip off there silly santa hat and shove it where the sun doesn't shine!

i hate buying presents i hate getting presents i resent being told i'm grumpy and not in the festive spirit, the whole world is being sailed up the swanny so there really isn't much to be festive about, we step closer each month and year to the total oblivion of the human race via the narrowing of the gene pool, the over burning of fossil fuels and the unwillingness of big business to accept its their responsibility, the sea levels are rising and in certain places famine is rife, 100,000+ people in Indonesia are still living in temorary accom this christmas TWO years after the tsunami, but i guess that doesn't matter as long as we are all happy and with our big christmas trees, over indulgent dinners, and excessive lights on our houses burning enough electricity to power a small hospital in a 3rd world country.

So yes HUMBUG! Humbug to it all and might i say HUMGBUG with good reason.

everthing is fine actually, uni is going well myself and R are going well, i just hate christmas! thankyou for the consideration though.

i just think people should be more aware of how its so easy to forget the less fortunate at this time of year. i mean people always are on about giving to charity all year round but how often do we think of people during this month, on the news its all about sales growth forcasts profit margins the economy bla bla bla, how much money has each of us sent to the armed forces charities to buy Christmas stuff for our boys abroad this year, or how about the local soup kitchen, or the local orphanage.

i'm not trying to ruin peoples christmas i'm trying to make people aware that we shouldn't cocoon ourselves in "our Christmas" and neglect to think that while its cold and if you live anywhere but the uk possilby snowing, there will be people outside who can't enjoy it.

Just think that if people didn't buy so many gifts this time of year, places like Wal-Mart wouldn't need to employ so many people and then they would all be out of work. There are many, many people who rely on the retail industry for employment. I'm sure that's not the way Christmas was intended, but nevertheless there are millions and millions of people who actually benefit from the mass hysteria that has become Christmas. Just something to think about. Or not.

And unfortunately there are millions of people suffering throughout the year, not only at Christmas. Those that are hurting could use our help all 12 months.

I don't necessarily like the retail/economic aspect of this season... However, I find it very fullfilling to be able to provide wonderful, thoughtful gifts to those I love - and I'm not necessarily talking about spending massive amounts of money. It is possible to give loving gifts without going into debt over it.
This is a season for love and peace. It shouldn't' matter what your religious beliefs are, as those are traits that are almost universal. This is a time for being with families and creating ever so precious memories... it reminds me that our time here is limited and that we need to live each day in a kind and compassionate manner and to let those we care about know it.
I find it sad that we need a day or a season for those things, as we should live that way everyday. I am grateful that I'm not one of those people starving or suffering, but that doesn't mean that I forget about them. I do what I can to contribute - no matter season it is. I feel this is generally true for most people and I cannot understand your hatred for christmastime.
It saddens me when people don't embrace the ideas of the season... If you don't like the financial aspect, then don't buy gifts. I can only say that there will forever be problems in the world and we all ought to be doing our part to contribute in a positive manner to the resolution of those problems; but I'm not gonna give my christmas just because people are starving or suffering or whatever... me being mad about it all isn't going to fix a damn thing. I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful family to spend the holidays with, and I'm not gonna feel guilty about it and neither should anyone else.

There ARE many things such as those you mentioned that CAN really get to a person around this season. The world will never be perfect. There ARE many things that each person can do to make the world a bit better, though.

When I donated blood a couple weeks ago I met a man who had given 24 GALLONS to date. He began giving after WW II when he arrived back home. He made a promise that he would save as many lives as he could because HIS had been spared. I was very inspired by him that day!

I watched a lot of people donate clothes and toys to The Salvation Army and to Toys For Tots last week as I dropped off my donations. I watched how excited the people were to find the great buys at The Salvation Army store and was happy that they could do so well for so little money. I was glad that I hadn't waited to donate my things.

Several of our neighbors traveled to Louisiana to help the victims of Katrina. Our own area was flooded this year, and many were helped by people who came from all over to lend a hand.

My mom who is 94 is on seven Prayer Chains and told me today that her neighbor's cancer is GONE! We have all been praying, and our prayers have been answered for her neighbor.

Each of these examples may be just isolated situations, but they ARE true ways to help one another. The Christmas season CAN be very commercial, but if you look around you will spot many remarkable people doing extraordinary things.

I wish you a happy Christmas season and hope that you will find many opportunities to see wonderful things happening...one miracle at a time.

well i'm going to bite my tongue on some of the above issues mainly regarding walmart and employment. over here we have a good humbug following, shops sell black santa hats with bah humbug on them and on the other side 100% christmas grump. i hear they are selling really well. i have one if you guys want i'll post some pics.